Israel weighs military strikes vs. blockade to break Iran's nuclear program

Israeli strategy is split between full military readiness for a violent conflict with Iran and relying on economic pressure and naval blockade to collapse the regime from within, according to senior Israeli intelligence, security, and diplomatic sources cited by Al-Monitor. A senior Israeli intelligence source stated any Iranian strike would force Israel into another major destructive round of fighting, this time with direct US support. Three diplomatic sources said the primary focus of any future military action would be destroying the remainder of Iran's nuclear program, with targeting regime symbols or infrastructure as a secondary gain. The Israeli Air Force remains on high alert and ready to resume strikes, threatening to reopen the path to Tehran quickly. However, officials are divided on the timing of a potential conflict, while another security faction prefers avoiding direct military costs, hoping US-led economic pressure and blockades will cause Iran's system to fall internally.